2008 IIHF Women's World Championship

CANADA CLINCHES BERTH IN GOLD MEDAL GAME AT WOMEN’S WORLDS

HARBIN, CHINA – Sarah Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC/Harvard, ECAC) scored two power play goals in 38 seconds in the second period to lead Canada to a 4-2 win over Finland at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship.

The win gives Canada a berth in Saturday’s gold medal game (TSN/RDS, 7 a.m. ET, 4 a.m. PST).

With the score tied 1-1, Vaillancourt scooped up a rebound off a Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, SK/Calgary, WWHL) shot and beat Finland’s Noora Raty. Then, just over half a minute later, Vaillancourt found a loose puck and scored her second of the game.

Canada made it 4-1 when Katie Weatherston (Thunder Bay, ON/Montreal, CWHL) made a nice forehand to backhand move, and roofed the puck.

Jayna Hefford (Kingston, ON/Brampton, CWHL) opened the scoring at 3:29 of the first period. Canada came out with a lot of jump but then had to hold off a strong Finnish attack for much of the first period. Finland had eight of its 12 shots in the first, forcing Kim St-Pierre (Chateauguay, QC/Montreal, CWHL) to make several good saves.

Canada will face Team USA on Thursday in Harbin, a game that will be shown live on TSN/RDS (11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday night, 8:59 p.m. PST).

Finland has concluded play in the qualifying round and will now await the result of Canada-USA. Team USA needs to win that game to be in Saturday’s gold medal final.

If Canada wins, Finland will play in its first-ever gold medal final at the IIHF World Women’s Championship.

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Final

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Goals/Buts :
03:29 CAN Hefford (Piper, Wickenheiser)
13:49 FIN Laaksonen (Helin, Rantamaki)

Penalties/Pénalités :
09:52 CAN Mikkelson (Roughing/Rudesse)
15:21 CAN Ferrari (High Sticking/Bâton élever)
16:25 CAN Agosta (Tripping/Trébucher)

Goals/Buts :
31:23 CAN Vaillancourt (Wickenheiser) PP
32:01 CAN Vaillancourt (Botterill) PP
37:25 CAN Weatherston (MacLeod)

Penalties/Pénalités :
25:52 FIN Voutilainen (Interference/Obstruction)
27:04 CAN Wickenheiser (Hooking/Accrocher)
29:56 FIN Pelttari (Interference/Obstruction)
31:54 FIN Rantamaki (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
39:22 CAN Vaillancourt (Cross-Checking/Double-échec)

Goals/Buts :
46:41 FIN Pehkonen

Penalties/Pénalités :
43:25 CAN Apps (Hooking/Accrocher)
49:13 FIN Hiirikoski (Body-Checking/Mise-en-échec)
51:39 FIN Jalosuo (Interference/Obstruction)